Clinton is a red variety of
hybrid grape
Hybrid grapes are grape varieties that are the product of a Hybrid (biology), crossing of two or more ''Vitis'' species. This is in contrast to crossings between grape varieties of the same species, typically ''Vitis vinifera'', the European grape ...
. Its
phylloxera
Grape phylloxera is an insect pest of commercial grapevines worldwide, originally native to eastern North America. Grape phylloxera (''Daktulosphaira vitifoliae'' (Fitch 1855) belong to the family Phylloxeridae, within the order Hemiptera, bugs ...
resistance led to its being planted in small amounts in the eastern Alps, although it imparts a pronounced
foxiness and dark red colour to wine made from its juice.
History
Clinton is a spontaneous cross between the North American species ''
Vitis riparia
''Vitis riparia'' Michx, with common names riverbank grape or frost grape, is a vine indigenous to North America. As a climbing or trailing vine, it is widely distributed across central and eastern Canada and the central and northeastern parts ...
'' and ''
Vitis labrusca
''Vitis labrusca'', the fox grape, is a species of grapevines belonging to the ''Vitis'' genus in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The vines are native to eastern North America and are the source of many grape cultivars, including Catawba, Co ...
''.
The first seedling was found in New York State by Hugh White in 1835.
After phylloxera arrived in Europe, it was planted in northern Italy, Switzerland
and Austria.
Distribution and wines
It is grown in Brazil, France, and Italian Switzerland.
In Austria it is one of the hybrid grapes used in
Uhudler Uhudler is a unique wine from Austria, which originates in the Südburgenland region (see Burgenland). In appearance it is often a rosé colour, but is also made as a white wine. It has intense flavours of strawberry and black currants, a character ...
wines.
In France it is illegal to sell commercially.
Walking southern France: Ceze
In Italy it is known as Clinton, and is sometimes confused with the ''vitis x labruscana'' variety Isabella
Isabella may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Isabella (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters
* Isabella (surname), including a list of people
Places
United States
* Isabella, Alabama, an unincorpor ...
, known as "Fragola" (strawberry) in Italy. ''Ubriaco al Fragola Clinto'' is a Veneto cheese rubbed with the must of Fragola and Clinton.
Vine and viticulture
It is a vigorous and early-maturing variety with small, black berries. It is very resistant to phylloxera.
Synonyms
Bacchus Black (though unrelated to Bacchus,) Clinton Rose, Plant Des Carmes, Plant Pouzin, Vorthington, Worthington, Zephirin, Clinto, Erdbeerer, Fragola.
References
Further reading
*
External links
VIVC Bibliography
{{Hybrid grape varieties
Red wine grape varieties
Hybrid grape varieties